Blinded by beauty_1

After staying at home for two days and being disdained by her mother a few times, Nian Yuyu took the subway back to Jing'an Garden.

Standing at the entrance of her neighborhood, she subconsciously looked across the street—

High-rises crowded the view, standing shoulder to shoulder.

After a few glances, she pulled her gaze back and turned to enter the neighborhood.

Although Jing'an Garden was an old residential area, it had good greenery. Unfortunately, it was still winter and the weather was cold, so everything was bare.

The neighborhood was adorned with festive red lanterns everywhere, and even though the New Year had passed, the festive atmosphere still lingered.

Nian Yuyu's home was in building No. 5. As she arrived at the entrance, she encountered some elderly residents who had brought out chairs to sunbathe at the doorway.

"Yuyu, you've just come back from your parents', haven't you!"

"You're becoming prettier every time I see you."

"You must be twenty-four after the New Year, right? Do you have a boyfriend yet?"

...

After exchanging greetings with the enthusiastic seniors, Nian Yuyu almost fled to the elevator.

Jing'an Garden was very much like Chunhua Garden, where her parents lived. Both were old communities with many elderly residents who always took an interest in single women living alone, tirelessly enthusiastic about setting her up with dates.

The elevator dinged.

When the elevator doors opened, Nian Yuyu walked out and continued toward the right side of the hallway.

There were ten floors in the building and she lived on the fifth. There were four units per floor, and hers was the one farthest to the right.

She took out her keys and unlocked the door, finally relaxing as she entered her home.

Kicking off her shoes, she walked barefoot on the heated marble floor, feeling the warmth rising up beneath her feet.

After having a glass of water, Nian Yuyu went to her study, turned on the computer, and sent a message. Not long after, her phone vibrated, signaling an incoming reply.

Yeman: [Congratulations, missing person, on your return!]

Nian Yuyu was speechless and typed out a response.

Ayu: [I just went home for two days!]

Yeman was a close online friend Nian Yuyu knew from a website; Ayu was the pen name of Nian Yuyu.

The two of them were newcomers to the comic circle in their early days, and their coincidental acquaintance had continued into a friendship that lasted six or seven years now.

Yeman: [For the April anime festival autograph session, will you be there?]

Yeman: [If you go, I'll go too!]

Nian Yuyu's fingers paused as she was replying to the message. Her slightly stagnant expression was reflected in the clear glass windows.

Ayu: [I haven't responded to the event organizers yet, and there's still over a month to go.]

The April anime festival autograph session was one of the hottest events in the anime and manga community, and as a top author on a comic site, Nian Yuyu received invitations almost every year.

But she had always kept her personal life and work distinctly separate, and on top of that, she disliked appearing in public, so she never attended.

Moreover... her gaze dimmed, if she went, she would inevitably bump into a certain person.

Yeman: [Alright, enough chit-chat, darling, let's get to work!]

As close friends, they were also famously known on the site as the "late submission duo."

Nian Yuyu looked at the message and pulled herself out of her slightly depressed mood. Her round eyes curved as she typed one word in response: [Okay.]

--

In the blink of an eye, another week passed, and the day after tomorrow was the Lantern Festival. Nian Yuyu dawdled at home until almost evening before leaving to take the subway back to her parents' home in Chunhua Garden.

The subway station was a short distance from Jing'an Garden, and since the area was part of University Town Square, she saw many young couples whispering sweet nothings along the way, prompting Nian Yuyu to bury her face in her scarf.

Just arriving at the subway entrance, a familiar figure ascended from the escalator—

The man was wearing a mask and still dressed in a black coat with a white cashmere sweater underneath. The simple attire was accentuated by his tall and slim frame, making him stand out in the crowd.

Nian Yuyu instinctively stopped in her tracks, watching the person approach. She could feel her heart skip another beat.

Chu You moved away from the crowd towards the exit, a few traces of coolness lingering between his clear-cut brows, radiating an aura of aloofness that discouraged strangers from approaching.

"Dr. Chu!" a woman's voice rang in his ear.

It was soft and glutinous, tinged with a touch of familiarity.

Chu You stopped in his tracks and turned his head, his indifferent gaze falling on Nian Yuyu, who was standing a meter away from him.

Today she wore a pink wool coat, wrapped in a pink and white plaid scarf, with most of her face hidden behind it, revealing only a pair of sparkling, round eyes, clear and animated.

Chu You's adam's apple subtly moved as he recognized Nian Yuyu.

"Dr... Dr. Chu, what a coincidence," Nian Yuyu nervously swallowed.

She didn't know why she had impulsively called out to Chu You just now.

Now, as he looked at her, she felt increasingly awkward.

"Have you... just finished work?" Nian Yuyu plucked up the courage to continue the conversation.

"Mhm." Chu You responded curtly, his eyes still on Nian Yuyu.

Nian Yuyu racked her brains for something to say, her hands unconsciously clutching at the hem of her coat.

The subway station was bustling with people, all in a hurry.

The two of them stood silently amidst the surging crowd.

"Is there something else?" Chu You was the first to speak, his voice cold but pleasant.

"No... No, there isn't." Nian Yuyu stammered.

She somewhat regretted stopping Chu You, probably getting light-headed from all the affectionate couples she had seen on her way there.

"It's just that you're busy with work and probably don't know about the Lantern Festival celebration at University Town Square tomorrow night."

"It should be lively; if you have time, you might want to check it out."

"No, wait, it'll be crowded; better not go."

Her speech was disjointed, and as soon as she finished speaking, without waiting for a response, she fled into the crowd.

Chu You watched Nian Yuyu's retreating figure, a flicker of ambiguity crossing his normally tranquil eyes, stirring a ripple in his usually calm heart.

Chu You knew of his own exceptional appearance and over the years, he had encountered many different types of girls.

Nian Yuyu was not the prettiest one, nor was she the most boldly flirtatious, yet she was inexplicably the one who could unsettle his emotions ever so slightly.

She exuded a careful boldness, a reserved shyness, yet lively and spirited.

Chu You withdrew his gaze, his normally indifferent face softened slightly, showing a rare gentleness.

The next second, he continued walking outwards, his icy demeanor once again setting him apart from the thronging masses in silence.

...

Inside the subway station, Nian Yuyu let out a sigh of relief while inwardly cursing herself for her lack of resolve, even though she had decided never to see him again.

Yet she had eagerly approached him, creating another awkward encounter.

She boarded the subway at the height of the evening rush hour, packed with people.

One hand gripping a handrail, she used the other to send a message on her phone.

Nian Yuyu: [Ahhhhhhhh!]

Nian Yuyu: [I did something silly again!]

Shortly after the message was sent, a reply came through.

Jiang Jingyun: [What happened?]

Jiang Jingyun: [Did you brush your teeth with facial cleanser again, or did you throw out the takeout while dumping the trash?]

Nian Yuyu ignored her last message, [I got distracted by beauty again!]

Jiang Jingyun: [???]